Nine hours sleep does wonders for the body and the soul. With a VERY early bed time last night, 6:00am didn’t seem early and we even caught the sunrise. Today was supposed to be a scuba day, but we all agreed last night that we’d be happier just relaxing and enjoying our fabulous rooms. Both couples in our group have the over-the-water bungalows and are only a few doors down from each other.
Breakfast is included in our packages (a must) so we all had a leisurely breakfast, hit up the front desk for a quick currency exchange, dinner reservations and a taxi booking to the local super market/mall. Our theory is that you should always get breakfast included (not worth the hassle of paying a la carte or going off-property), play lunch by ear, and plan nice dinners. Because we wanted to enjoy the rooms and the hotel amenities, we just bought a baguette, some cheese, pâté, salami, and jamon for lunch. Pair that with some complimentary Champagne and a nice bottle of rose from our Wine Check and you have a great meal. The setting didn’t hurt either: green hills, coral gardens, bright sun and a happy family. Bouncing back and forth between snorkeling off your room’s deck, sipping rosé and laying in the sun, relaxing, is a can’t miss combination.
After lunch we all felt the need for some exercise, so we headed to the aquatic center to grab a few paddle boards and a kayak. Everyone did great and after about an hour on the water, it was time for another glass of wine (Sauvignon Blanc), a little downtime and to get ready for dinner. Dinner tonight is at Rudy’s, a great French-Polynesian fusion spot that’s not too far from the hotel. As with most restaurants on the island, Rudy’s will pick you up at your hotel and drop you back off when you are done. It’s definitely worth it, as cabs in Moorea are expensive. Just be sure to clarify with your concierge when you book the reservation about how many are in your party and any issues. We booked earlier in the day and there was a misunderstanding about the number of people in our party, which caused confusion with the driver and the hostess when we finally arrived. Tahiti is a couples’ paradise, but they get thrown off when the group is more than two people, so just over communicate.
Dinner was fabulous once we got there: steak with morel mushrooms, steak au louvre, green salad with baked goat cheese, tuna carpaccio, very reasonable bottles of Sauvignon Blanc and Côtes du Rhône and a pineapple dessert to end the meal and the day. Off to bed; until tomorrow!